[Coach Tom’s Commentary] How might behaviors affect self-determination? In the spectrum of helping someone exercise self- autonomy through a journey of influencing attitudes and beliefs, to coaching for confidence, there might come a time where counselling is a useful intervention. The approach should take into consideration the specific circumstance of the individual and often times, a combination of interventions might be most efficacious.
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Some people struggle with developing skills because of particular behaviors developed from influences over the years. When they struggle with pre-structured behaviors or genetically related behaviors it often makes it a harder struggle to build self-determination. Usually with some help, a good mentor, counselor, etc, the person can develop skills. It may take longer, but it is worth the wait. A person’s behavior towards a situation could also affect the way others see them. Their attitude towards others could also affect their behavior as well.
One’s attitude needs to be adjusted for one to develop and change their self-determination. A person could be assessed in any situation so as to understand what they are going through for one to understand them in any way. May be a sort of group therapy may also help so as the teacher can pick up on any feelings you may have when discussing matters. Some people may feel better if they converse about things first to others and listen to others.
Some issues or problems seemed to resurface time and again. In some instance, it could be triggered something that has happened to them emotionally or mentally. No one knows unless these issues are raised. In the case of a child, sometimes the child might feel better telling a complete stranger i.e. a Counsellor as they can understand and relate in a different way rather than talking to a relative. There may be certain things they want to say but feel overwhelmed when talking to someone they know. They may have a lot to say and feel nervous in front of someone. For example, you may want to feel less anxious or tired and therefore a session in counseling may be of help to you in some way or another. Counseling may also help in other ways as a professional practice that goes beyond coaching.
Considering the cognitive approach, motivation sometimes crosses over the lines of theory. For instance, implicit motives can set in motion or cause someone unknowingly to react to something when the person is unaware of his or her intentions. By training the mind to learn while focusing on the objective, you can help one to reform unconstructive behaviors. Sometimes counselors will use priming methods to measure the patients contained memory. The process involves scrambling letters. Once the letters are jumbled the entity is asked to choose some words from the letters. The letters in the first instance should relate to success while in the second instance it should relate to relationship. During these tests patients that chose the success often showed higher degrees of motivation than those that were confined to relationships. Each party during these tests is often prepared with success-related terms or words. Priming methods have shown that it can increase motivation.
Aside from the priming method, other methods to consider developing motivation and self-determination. Another good strategy is the pro and con measurement test. This test will help both adults and children see the benefits of balance, good skills, motivation, etc, and see the consequences of the cons. It is an effective therapeutic strategy that could work in some situations. It is a proven fact that we often develop behaviors whether consciously or not, and in time unconscious influences that enforced the behaviors upon us will display themselves in our behavior. We must constantly stay on guard to defend our human rights and to make sure that others are not influencing our behaviors.
Coach Tom is an Official Member of the Forbes Coaches Council (2022). Check out the various articles by #CoachTom on leadership, organization transformation, strategy and coaching at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/people/thomaslim
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